--- title: "Copper Prices Hit Record High As AI Data Center Boom Fuels Global Supply Crunch, Pushing CPER ETF Higher" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286228249.md" description: "Copper prices have reached record highs above $6.60 per pound, driven by supply disruptions and increased demand from AI-related infrastructure. The CPER ETF, which tracks copper futures, surged to $40.46, marking a 15.7% increase this year. The price of copper has risen approximately 75% since October 2023, with significant contributions from declining inventories in China and supply issues at major mines. China's exports also rose 14% in April, further tightening the copper market." datetime: "2026-05-13T08:29:59.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286228249.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286228249.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286228249.md) --- # Copper Prices Hit Record High As AI Data Center Boom Fuels Global Supply Crunch, Pushing CPER ETF Higher Copper futures climbed to a record high above $6.60 a pound early Wednesday as supply disruptions, tightening inventories and booming AI-related infrastructure demand fueled a rally in the metal and the **United States Copper Index Fund** (NYSE:CPER). The ETF, which tracks the copper futures contracts on the COMEX exchange, surged to a new record high of $40.46 on Tuesday. It has risen 15.7% since the start of the year and nearly 10% over the past month. With assets under management of $735.9 million, CPER trades in an average daily volume of 727,000 shares and has a steep expense ratio of 1.06%. ## **Copper Price Surges** In a Tuesday post on X, **The Kobeissi Letter** said copper prices are now up roughly 75% since October 2023 and more than 40% over the past 12 months. "The surge comes amid tight supply, declining inventories in China, and surging demand for data center construction," according to the letter. > BREAKING: Copper prices have surged to a record $6.58 per pound, now up +75% since October 2023 and over +40% in 12 months. > > The surge comes amid tight supply, declining inventories in China, and surging demand for data center construction. > > Furthermore, supply disruptions at the… pic.twitter.com/eMBLP1o9U4 > > — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) May 12, 2026 **Read Also: Global Food Prices Rise For Third Straight Month As Vegetable Oils, Meat Hit New Highs** ## **Global Supply Disruptions** The letter said that the supply disruptions at the world's second-largest copper mine in Indonesia are driving the copper prices higher. **Freeport-McMoRan Inc.** (NYSE:FCX) said Monday it still expects Indonesia's Grasberg copper mine to return to full production by the end of 2027. Concerns over global supply disruptions are also highlighted by billionaire investor **Robert Friedland**, who warned about the potential ripple effect from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasized that such disruptions could lead to a shortage of critical precursor materials, notably sulphuric acid, which is essential for copper production and agriculture. ## **China Export Surges** China's exports surged 14% year-over-year in April, driven in part by strong shipments of clean-tech products and industrial components that require large amounts of copper. This has intensified the already tight copper market, according to the letter. **Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings** indicate that CPER maintains strong pricing trends in the short, medium and long term, with a strong Momentum score in the 81st percentile. **_Disclaimer:_** _This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by a Benzinga editor._ **Read Also: Howard Lutnick Says US Is 'Bringing Back' Semiconductor Manufacturing: Here Are ETFs That Could Benefit** _Photo courtesy: Ziadi Lotfi via Shutterstock_ ### Related Stocks - [ERO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/ERO.US.md) - [BHP.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BHP.US.md) - [TECK.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TECK.US.md) - [FCX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/FCX.US.md) - [600362.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/600362.CN.md) - [BHP.UK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BHP.UK.md) - [RIO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/RIO.US.md) - [RIO.UK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/RIO.UK.md) - [SCCO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SCCO.US.md) - [COPJ.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/COPJ.US.md) - [ICOP.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/ICOP.US.md) - [CPER.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/CPER.US.md) - [COPX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/COPX.US.md) - [COPP.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/COPP.US.md) - [SSTK.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SSTK.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [METALS-Copper ticks higher on Chile supply worries and hopes for Iran war deal](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287043513.md) - [METALS-Copper falls as investors lock in gains after rally](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286350929.md) - [METALS-Weak China data pushes copper to one-week low](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286750747.md) - [CEO.CA's Inside the Boardroom: Hayasa Metals Has First-Mover Advantage in Armenia Gold and Copper with Teck as Partner | HAYAF Stock News](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286911835.md) - [How Peru’s Tía María Permit Revocation At Southern Copper (SCCO) Has Changed Its Investment Story](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286701241.md)